Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

Snout-vent lengths range from 42 to 82 mm in males and 44 to 92 mm in females. Dorsal coloration is usually some shade of brown, but varies from red to nearly black. Dark spots often enclosing more than one wart are present. The cranial crests approach each other anteriorly and are posteriorly raised to form clublike knobs. A faint mid-dorsal stripe is frequently present.

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Description

Snout-vent lengths range from 42 to 82 mm in males and 44 to 92 mm in females. Dorsal coloration is usually some shade of brown, but varies from red to nearly black. Dark spots often enclosing more than one wart are present. The cranial crests approach each other anteriorly and are posteriorly raised to form clublike knobs. A faint mid-dorsal stripe is frequently present.

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Distribution

Range Description

This species occurs in the Coastal Plain, USA, from southeastern Virginia to the Florida Keys, west to Louisiana; disjunctive population in Upper Piedmont and Blue Ridge of South Carolina (but not Georgia) (Laerm and Hopkins 1997).

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Distribution and Habitat

Found in the coastal plain from southeastern Virginia to the Florida Keys, and westward along the gulf coast to eastern Louisiana. Abundant throughout its range, but particularly common in areas with sandy soils. May attempt to breed in almost any aquatic habitat.

Blem, C. R. (1963). ''Bufo terrestris.'' Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, 223.1-223.4.

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Distribution and Habitat

Found in the coastal plain from southeastern Virginia to the Florida Keys, and westward along the gulf coast to eastern Louisiana. Abundant throughout its range, but particularly common in areas with sandy soils. May attempt to breed in almost any aquatic habitat.

Blem, C. R. (1963). ''Bufo terrestris.'' Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, 223.1-223.4.

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Physical Description

Morphology

Anaxyrus terrestris is a medium-sized toad in which adults of the species can attain snout vent lengths between 41mm and 92mm. Males usually average between 42-82mm and females slightly larger between 44-92mm (Wright 1949). Much larger specimens, however, have been found on islands along the coasts of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. The most distinguishing characteristic is the knobs found on the head which are actually extensions of the interorbital ridges. As usual with a member of the family Bufonidae, parotoid glands are present and the skin is warty. The warts are often spine-tipped. The spotted and mottled dorsal coloration can vary from shades of brick red to black. The ventral side is lighter. Post orbital ridges are not in contact with the parotoids but are connected to them by a backward projecting spur (Mount 1975).

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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

It is adaptable and ubiquitous. Occupies a wide variety of wooded and unwooded habitats, which usually have sandy soil. Burrows underground when inactive. Eggs and larvae develop in shallow water of permanent ponds, woodland pools, and flooded depressions.

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Comments: Adaptable and ubiquitous. Occupies a wide variety of wooded and unwooded habitats, which usually have sandy soil. Burrows underground when inactive. Eggs and larvae develop in shallow water of permanent ponds, woodland pools, and flooded depressions.

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Migration

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

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Reproduction

This species breeds during wet-weather periods from around the first of March to late May (Mount 1975). However, occasionally continue on to September (Wright 1949). Breeding usually occurs on the edges of small permanent ponds, woodland pools, or flooded depressions. As is the case of closely related Bufo fowleri, Anaxyrus terrestris will never breed in creeks or rivers. The eggs which number between 2500-3000 are laid in long coils of jelly which hatch within 2-4 days. Anaxyrus terrestris spends 30-55 days as a tadpole before metamorphasing upon attaining a length between 6.5-11mm (Wright 1949).

Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

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Comments: Population trend is unknown but probably stable to slightly declining.

Global Long Term Trend: Increase of 10-25% to decline of 30%

Comments: Likely relatively stable in extent of occurrence, probably less than 25% decline in population size, area of occurrence, and number/condition of occurrences, but better information is needed for Mexico.